ATSUM called total shutdown in the hill districts

The four tribal student leaders were picked up from ATSUM office over the proposed 24-hour total shutdown in the hill districts of the state from 6 pm of August 3 till 6 pm of August 4 to press the state government for tabling of the Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Councils Bill 2021 in the ongoing second session of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly.

Clarified on imposition of total shutdown

The student bodies has clarified on imposition of the last total shutdown in the hill districts as to protest against the failure of the state Govt to implement what was agreed upon.

Henkai Singshit, Finance Secretary, ATSUM during a press briefing asserted that while condemning in the strongest possible term stated that barbaric, inhumane and monstrosity of Manipur Police had led to beating up, thrashing up the young boys and girls who are studying in the college and Hr. Sec. Schools in Imphal. They only demanded for the release of five tribal student leaders who were arrested because of demanding for the implementation of the agreement and the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that was signed between the Govt of Manipur and All Tribal Students Union, Manipur together with All Hill Students of the state.

The Memorandum of Understanding had agreed to implement the Hill Areas Committee recommended Bill, 2021 to be tabled in the winter session last year. However, calling it unfortunate, the ATSUM Finance Secretary lamented that the agreement that was signed on August 25 2021could not be carried out in letter and spirit as the state Govt failed to abide by its promises. Terming it as to be the reason, the All Tribal Students’ Union, Manipur (ATSUM), All Naga Students Association, Manipur (ANSAM), Kuki Students Organization-General Headquarters (KSO-GHQ) and federating units of ATSUM ask the state Govt to implement the agreement that was agreed and signed (MoU) in August, 2021.

Instead of carrying out what was agreed, the student leader lamented to have introduced another bill in the state assembly. In protest against the state Govt that failed to keep its promises, apex tribal students including the ATSUM, ANSAM and KSO-GHQ protest to air the unhappiness over the Govt’s lackadaisical attitude had led to the imposition of the last 24-hour total shutdown in all the hill districts of Manipur. In connection to the total shutdown, five of the student leaders were arrested and moreover, each and every tribal student leaders were hunted in their own respective homes including the state police had been sent in the past, he lamented.